Braided Garlic Bread

I am a huge fan of garlic bread and I am always looking for a new way to make it. I took this idea from the bread at the local grocery store. They make a tear apart cheese bread that is pretty good. The concept however, is awesome. No need to cut the bread and you can serve it family style. Plus, since the bread is braided, there is garlic butter throughout the whole loaf of bread.

The braids allow for the center of the bread to be light and fluffy. So darn tasty!

Braided Garlic Bread

1 1/2 tsp quick-acting dry yeast

2/3 cup warm water (105 to 115 degrees)

1 1/2 tbs vegetable oil

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 to 2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 tbs Honey

8 tbs butter

6 cloves of garlic – This is not a good date night recipe

Dissolve yeast in warm water in 2 1/2 quart bowl. Stir in 1 cup of the flour, the oil, honey and 1 teaspoon salt. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour, scraping dough from side of bowl, until soft dough forms. Cover and let rise in warm place until double, about 45 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Punch down the dough and then turn the dough onto generously floured surface; roll around lightly to coat with flour. Divide the dough into 4 even pieces. Then roll each piece out into a snake that is about 2 feet long.

On a sheet pan lined with parchment or a silpat, arrange the four braids side by side. Taking the braid that is to the farthest left, cross on top of the middle two braids and then go under the fourth braid.

Next take the far left braid and cross the middle two and go under the far left braid. Continue crossing over the middle two braids and going under the far braid until the entire length of the braids are braided.

Next place the butter in a bowl. Then grate the garlic into the butter using a grater or microplane. Next heat melt the butter in the microwave 30 seconds at a time until fully melted. You can do this in a pan over the stove if you do not have a microwave.

Make sure to mix the garlic butter before using. Then brush the garlic butter over the entire braided loaf. Make sure to get into the braids.

Bake at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until the bread is nicely browned.

Take to the table whole and let the family or your guests tear off how much they want.

Rex is an avid griller, barbecuer and bacon enthusiast. He is the Pitmaster for the Rex BBQ competition team. Rex was also featured on the TV show American Grilled. If you have any questions or wish to have Rex decode your favorite dish, click on the ASK REX link in the menu above.

Thanks so much for this. This might sound a little strange, but I spent the first few years of my teenage lifein Italy, then travelled around the globe. Now I’m living in New Zealand, with my Chinese wife, and son we had whilst in Japan! Truly international, eh? Anyway, I’ve been trying to rediscover the smells and tastes of my youth with some authentic like these, best I’ve found so far! Thanks again, I’ll see if I can add the feed to my google reader tonight, though my son usually does that for me!